Everything you need to know about finding a Surveyor

Surveyors play an important part in the building or renovating process.  Almost anything that you want to build on your property will require a building permit and it is a building surveyor that issues these.  Building surveyors and, to a slightly lesser extent, building inspectors are responsible for ensuring that a building is safe, livable, and energy-efficient, and that it meets all of the relevant building requirements.  They work with engineers, architects, and builders throughout the construction process.

Surveyors are different to land surveyors.  Land surveyors survey the subdivision of land, taking into account things such as the land’s slope, topography, and geography.  They are also different to quantity surveyors.  Quantity surveyors are responsible for estimating the cost of the building materials.

Role of a Surveyor

Surveyors perform the following tasks:

• Advise and assist both owners and builders on the building plans before they are lodged in order to avoid any problems.
  
• Assess building plans to ensure that they meet building regulations.
  
• Conduct pre-purchase inspections.
  
• Conduct inspections throughout the building process to ensure that they conform to building regulations and that proper building methods and materials are used.
  
• Write reports and keep records on the construction process and any instances where regulations have been breached or plans have been altered.
  
• Give evidence where required in the case of the breach of building regulations.
  
• Assess the condition of existing buildings.
  
• Issue building permits.
  
• Issue certificates of compliance once the construction has been completed.
  
• Assess buildings for suitable access for disabled people.